It is Cult Faction’s sad duty to report that the man who created SpongeBob SquarePants, Stephen Hillenburg, has passed away aged 57 years old after a battle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease). Hillenberg revealed the sad diagnosis back in March.

Nickelodeon released a statement saying “we are incredibly saddened by the news that Steve Hillenburg has passed away following a battle with ALS. He was a beloved friend and long-time creative partner to everyone at Nickelodeon, and our hearts go out to his entire family. Steve imbued ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ with a unique sense of humour and innocence that has brought joy to generations of kids and families everywhere. His utterly original characters and the world of Bikini Bottom will long stand as a reminder of the value of optimism, friendship and the limitless power of imagination.”